way for self-driving cars, yes, i said self-driving cars, governor jerry brown called the vehicles "science fiction becoming tomorrow's reality." >> they're closer to being reality than you might think. in fact, abc's jim avila has already taken one out for a test drive. >> reporter: you have seen this -- cars that slam on the brakes before you hit a pole. but here's something you have never seen. the car of the future making the driver totally unnecessary. no hand. google is working on one. and the federal government is sponsoring a field test in ann arbor, michigan with cars that automatically swerve past potential accidents and alert you to oncoming hazards. and now this at general motors' test track, i sat in the driver's seat as this cadillac at high speeds stayed in its lane. at 60 miles an hour it stopped on its own even when a car driving 30 miles slower pulleden front of us. >> we can foresee the day when vehicles will avoid collisions. >> reporter: it has been a car maker's dream since george jetson sat in his automated flying car. >> the vehicle can take complete control and take